Will Nigeria's elections be free and fair?

Despite a series of bomb blasts that cast an ominous cloud on the eve of Nigeria's parliamentary polls last weekend, there seems to be an agreement among local and international observers that the first leg of country's election marathon was generally free and fair.

But that was just the beginning.

There is still a feeling of unease among people about the possibility of attaining a truly free and fair ballot in the presidential elections due this Saturday and the polls for Nigeria's 36 powerful state governors 10 days later.

Given that Nigeria's past electoral history is marred with allegations of blatant rigging and thuggery, they feel they have reason to worry.

For many Nigerians, the 2007 election - the second since the return to civilian rule in 1999 - was the worst ever conducted in the country.

Even late President Umaru Yar'Adua acknowledged the polls were flawed as he was sworn in.

"We will ensure that we raise the quality and standards of our general elections to meet international standards," Mr Yar'Adua promised.

Impossible task?

He made good on his pledge to set up a panel of respected Nigerians to look into the electoral process and offer resolutions.

Presidential Candidates

Goodluck Jonathan, president - PDP

Nuhu Ribadu, former anti-corruption fighter - ACN

Muhammadu Buhari, former military ruler - CPC

Ibrahim Shekarau, Kano governor - ANPP

16 others

He did not live to see the outcome, dying in office nearly a year ago, but the panel led to the appointment of Attahiru Jega as the head of the previously discredited Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec).

A former professor of political science and firebrand activist during military rule, he is now saddled with the responsibility of overseeing what must sometimes feel like an impossible task of delivering credible polls.

"First all we have a very thorough process of evaluating what went wrong in the previous elections," he said.

"And at the minimum we would have election that is substantively better than the ones we've had before."

Despite the assurances, some politicians are still distrustful of any electoral reforms.

The fact that the initial parliamentary vote had to be postponed from 2 April after voting material failed to reach many areas may not have calmed the sceptics.

But for some in the opposition, the problem is that Mr Jega was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan, who took over as president in May 2010.

They worry he may dance to the president's tune.

Mike Tyson

Among those doubtful of Inec's ability to conduct a free and fair election is one of the main challengers for president, Muhammadu Buhari.

A former military ruler, the Congress for Progressive Change candidate has urged his supporters to "protect their votes".

The ballot boxes are transparent...

Former trade unionist Adams Oshiomhole, now governor of Edo State for the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, put it more strongly.

"My appeal to Edo people is that on election day: You vote, you stand, you wait. They must count the votes and announce the winner. If they rig, you kill them there."

However, Nigerians often find the problems are not necessarily on voting day and elections can be rigged long before the actual day of the polls.

For instance, in previous voters' registration exercises, names like Nelson Mandela and Mike Tyson have featured on the electoral roll.

There have also been cases when a polling station recorded a 100% vote for a particular party, indicating that the opposition candidate and his family had voted for the winner.

And this year's voters' registration exercise also left much to be desired.

Paid to vote

We believe in the new system and we have to ensure that there is changeMary Ochabor, Abuja voter

Ad hoc staff trained for the exercise could not operate the Data Capture Machines; people queued up for hours and then days, resulting in many leaving out of frustration without registering.

But far from being jaundiced by past form, turnout to register was large.

Dayo Olayide, country director of Open Society Initiatives for West Africa, puts this down to the various encouragements offered to people by politicians and parties to register.

But such incentives or bribes on polling days are what Mr Jega and President Jonathan have promised to stamp out.

"Many people have incentive to register, but in the absence of any incentive to vote, they may stay away," Mr Olayide warns.

However, for Sanusi Ahmed, a voter in Abuja, the postponement and fears of further chaos have not put him off.

At a polling station in the capital on Saturday, he said he believed all his votes would count this time around.

"It has been peaceful here.

"People voted and are waiting patiently to ensure the votes are counted. They want to know the results before they go home. To me this is a good sign of improvement."

Another Abuja voter, Mary Ochabor, said it came down to hope: "I just pray that my vote would count, I hope it will.

"We believe in the new system and we have to ensure that there is change."